Can a drug addict be a christian?

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azlightsout

Senior Member
Apr 20, 2016
2,151
57
48
#21
Really the thread title says it all, but I will expand a little just to ask this; can someone actively in the midst of drug addiction, not recovery, be a christian? If no, why not? If yes, how is that reconciled?
Yes they can - we are all addicts to different things ---
 

hornetguy

Senior Member
Jan 18, 2016
6,644
1,396
113
#22
might as well face it, I'm addicted to love......

The OP question could also be stated "can a sinner be a Christian?".....

I'm not raggin on the OP, just stating the obvious.... we ALL are sinners, in various stages of recovery from our toughest sins... drug addiction is one of those, as is porn addiction, Dr Pepper addiction (don't laugh, I knew someone that was), the addiction of haughty pride....

we all are struggling with something.... some of us with several somethings.... loving the drug user and praying for them is probably the most effective thing you can do at this point.. don't beat them up over their Christianity... they might be just barely holding on to God through this phase of their life.
 
N

NewWine

Guest
#23
I guess I would want to know the intention behind the question before I answered. Is the OP an addict looking for hope? Is the op wanting to help an addict looking for hope? Or is the op looking for someone to agree that addicts can't possibly be a believer, so they can go back with more ammunition against addicts?
No one is perfect, everyone has to make their own choices in life and live with the consequences of ALL of those choices, whether good or bad, and sometimes we all make bad choices that lead us down the rabbit hole. The odd thing....God loves us all regardless of our choices. When an addict cries for help with anything, God acts.....just like when a saint asks for help God acts. So whether someone is a "Christian" or not, isn't really my business. If they ask me for help, I will act. I don't need to know their heart, because God does, and I trust God.
Peace!!
 
W

WarriorForChrist

Guest
#24
Ok let me throw this at you. A child molester could be an addict. A murderer could be addicted to murdering someone. If no sin is greater than any other then these two I mention could still be a Christian and enter heaven. I think it comes down to if we feel any type of conviction from the Holy Spirit about our sins. If there is no conviction then well I would say that person is lost. If we have no desire to remove sin from our lives then we are lost.
 
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kaylagrl

Guest
#25
Really the thread title says it all, but I will expand a little just to ask this; can someone actively in the midst of drug addiction, not recovery, be a christian? If no, why not? If yes, how is that reconciled?
A person can be a Christian and struggling with an addiction,yes. But one cannot be a Christian and continue in a sinful life,flouting Gods commands. I believe God knows the difference and our hearts.
 

hoss2576

Senior Member
May 10, 2014
552
23
18
#26
So the difference is the recognition that it is wrong and a desire to stop doing it even though the person struggles with the issue (whether it be drugs, sex, idolatry)?
 
D

Depleted

Guest
#27
I guess I would want to know the intention behind the question before I answered. Is the OP an addict looking for hope? Is the op wanting to help an addict looking for hope? Or is the op looking for someone to agree that addicts can't possibly be a believer, so they can go back with more ammunition against addicts?
No one is perfect, everyone has to make their own choices in life and live with the consequences of ALL of those choices, whether good or bad, and sometimes we all make bad choices that lead us down the rabbit hole. The odd thing....God loves us all regardless of our choices. When an addict cries for help with anything, God acts.....just like when a saint asks for help God acts. So whether someone is a "Christian" or not, isn't really my business. If they ask me for help, I will act. I don't need to know their heart, because God does, and I trust God.
Peace!!
On your first paragraph. I'm pretty sure Hoss wasn't waiting for ammunition or Hoss is annoyingly patient. lol
 
D

Depleted

Guest
#28
A person can be a Christian and struggling with an addiction,yes. But one cannot be a Christian and continue in a sinful life,flouting Gods commands. I believe God knows the difference and our hearts.
How long is "continuing?"

I continued for 3.5 years. Newton (the man who wrote Amazing Grace) continued buying and selling slaves for close to 20. We were saved.

I can tell from his long life. I just know with me, because I tried to stop believing in God and couldn't.
 
D

Depleted

Guest
#29
So the difference is the recognition that it is wrong and a desire to stop doing it even though the person struggles with the issue (whether it be drugs, sex, idolatry)?
No. The difference is and always is God. He put the Christ in Christian.

Everyone recognizes all those things are wrong. Any addict will admit deep down they'd rather not be controlled by the thing. Still it controls, so often above being able to get away from and leave behind. That and whatever it is really does satisfy a need. The satisfaction dwindles after the first time, but we are hopeful people -- forever hoping we can regain that first experience again. That IS addiction.

I wasn't the only person in my rehab group to get off drugs for good out of any brilliance on my part. (I was addicted. How brilliant could I possibly be?) I was the only person because... God! He had me. He didn't have the others.
 

JennaLeanne

Senior Member
Dec 26, 2015
411
37
28
#30
Then I guess I am not a Christian as I am highly addicted to caffeine and caffeine is a drug. Everyone struggles with something some are addicted to certain things but I believe that salvation has to do with a persons heart not what their addicted to.
Amen. Jesus came to set the captives free... It's his love that changes us nothing else... Absolutely yes... But it's always the plan of God to free us... When we abide in him and continue in a grace and truth relationship then freedom will always come.. Praise God xx
 

JennaLeanne

Senior Member
Dec 26, 2015
411
37
28
#31
So the difference is the recognition that it is wrong and a desire to stop doing it even though the person struggles with the issue (whether it be drugs, sex, idolatry)?
The spirit brings life... Drug addiction or any addiction is bondage isn't it, God wants us free, Jesus died to free us from sin and the power of it... We recognise we have weaknesses and give them over like "Lord I'm hooked on crack, sex, gambling whatever, I know it's not good for me but in my own strength I can't stop please help me" The more we grow in relationship with him by reading his word and praying the more free we become xx
 
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kaylagrl

Guest
#32
How long is "continuing?"

I continued for 3.5 years. Newton (the man who wrote Amazing Grace) continued buying and selling slaves for close to 20. We were saved.

I can tell from his long life. I just know with me, because I tried to stop believing in God and couldn't.
Would you say your were back slidden, or struggling? There has to be a point where we stop living in sin. You know what I mean? Something has to change,we cant keep sinning and still be Christians. There is a point of deliverance.
 
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psalm6819

Guest
#33
How long is "continuing?"

I continued for 3.5 years. Newton (the man who wrote Amazing Grace) continued buying and selling slaves for close to 20. We were saved.

I can tell from his long life. I just know with me, because I tried to stop believing in God and couldn't.
an excellent point!!!! it isn't OUR place to determine how long is TO long, it actually sounds like someone jealous that another is enjoying the sin to much.
 

JennaLeanne

Senior Member
Dec 26, 2015
411
37
28
#34
Would you say your were back slidden, or struggling? There has to be a point where we stop living in sin. You know what I mean? Something has to change,we cant keep sinning and still be Christians. There is a point of deliverance.
We need to look at it like this.. Sin was our nature because of Adam wasn't it.. so we weren't just people who sinned now and again we were actually sinners. It was our nature... But when we receive Christ we are born again to his nature.. What is his nature? Obedience... So now we are born into obedience, not ours but his. Therefore any habitual sin we are stuck in really in the light of what Jesus has done is a total lie... But becomes a reality if we yield to the deception.. God see's our hearts ya know,like If I am continuously having sex thinking God's grace covers it that's dangerous... But if I'm like Oh maaaan I've done it again. Lord I'm so sorry please help me in this weak area. There is a huge difference. A repentant heart is the key.. Staying stuck in the same things for years on end is not God's plan. . The holy spirit will lead us into all truth, We are required to seek with all of our hearts. Only then will we see the manifestation of what Jesus really did do for us. Xx
 
C

Chuckt

Guest
#35
Someone who is willingly on softdrugs or harddrugs (not cafeine which doesn't get you in the demonic realm) with no desire to change is not a christian. I dated one who said he was a christian. God said I had to break contact. I said: Why? He said: ask him if he wants prayer to be set free from it. So I asked. He yelled: NOOOO! Pot is good! God made pot!
There was my answer.
There are a couple of problems with this answer.

I work near a methadone clinic and from what I understand is that once you take that drug, you are addicted for life. The body makes a dependence on this drug and there is very little willpower that can help you overcome it.

So what you are saying is that belief in Jesus Christ is not enough.

My God is not too small.
 
D

Depleted

Guest
#36
Would you say your were back slidden, or struggling? There has to be a point where we stop living in sin. You know what I mean? Something has to change,we cant keep sinning and still be Christians. There is a point of deliverance.
Agreed. But I really don't think anyone can tell about someone else's walk. Sometimes our walk looks more like a drunk's long stumble. And yet, God is still getting us where he wants us to be in the time he planned it all along. God told Abraham he'd be the father of a nation. He didn't tell him "in 20+ years." That part was a slow reveal.

There are some folks who are addicts and think they're Christians, but aren't. There are some folks who are addicts and are. I can't tell which is which until the really long haul. I know many people gave up on me. I also know if Jack and Robin had given up on me too, I wouldn't have made it to the ripe old age of 25. They had no choice but to wait for the train wreck. I didn't give them a second choice. But they picked me up and took me to rehab days after the crash, (the night I was raped was the crash), and for that I will always be grateful.
 
D

Depleted

Guest
#37
an excellent point!!!! it isn't OUR place to determine how long is TO long, it actually sounds like someone jealous that another is enjoying the sin to much.
Huh? (as in, I really didn't get that. Who would be jealous of sin? And looking back -- and forward, since I'm still addicted to cigs, but Monday is the big day -- it really wasn't/isn't that enjoyable after it took over.)
 
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psychomom

Guest
#38
I work near a methadone clinic and from what I understand is that once you take that drug, you are addicted for life. The body makes a dependence on this drug and there is very little willpower that can help you overcome it.

pfft! :)

i have a chronic pain condition, and took methadone for ten years. (didn't have insurance and it's the cheapest narcotic pain drug available)

one day i woke up and said, ya know? i don't want this stuff anymore. (was this the Lord? maybe!)
so i quit it. were there unpleasant side effects to stopping? sure. withdrawal is tough.
but although i still had the stuff in the house, i wasn't tempted to take it.
it was only a physiological addiction, after all, and God kept me through the trauma of withdrawal.

you're right! God had me, and He is very big! :)
 
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psychomom

Guest
#39
on another note.... hoss? you okay?

someone you know need prayer?
 
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psychomom

Guest
#40

Kind of like Jonah. He didn't stop being chosen by God simply because he chose to run from what God wanted, but God worked on him until he chose to do God's plan. (And after that, he went back to moping and complaining again.)

gulp! .....